Bidens ferulifolia plant named &#39;Bidcomtis&#39;

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of  Bidens  plant named ‘Bidcomtis’ which is particularly distinguished by its very compact plant habit, short intemodes, and golden yellow flowers. The new cultivar can perfectly be used in 10-12 cm pots and grown without growth regulators.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Bidens ferulifolia

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Bidcomtis’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new distinct cultivar of Bidens, botanically known as Bidens ferulifolia, native to South USA and Mexico.

The new cultivar is propagated by cuttings resulting from a seedling from Bidens ferulifolia cv. ‘Bidtis 1’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,280). Seed of ‘Bidtis 1,’ resulting from open pollination, was harvested in 1999 and a new variety ‘Bidcomtis’ was selected in 2000 as one of the plants of this population. This new plant is an annual. The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a compact Bidens variety. ‘Bidcomtis’ was asexually reproduced by cuttings for 3 years now and trialled under different conditions in Europe on Syngenta trial ground properties. It has been found to retain its distinctiveness characteristics through successive propagation, and its novelty appears to be firmly fixed. The new variety reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Bidens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Bidens plant. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 20 weeks old plants, grown in window boxes in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands with day temperatures ranging from 16 and 30 degrees Celsius, and night temperatures ranging from 10 to 16 degrees Celsius.

Color references are primarily to the RHS Color Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London. TABLE 1 Differences between the new cultivar ‘Bidcomtis’ and ‘Bidtis 1’ ‘Bidcomtis’ ‘Bidtis 1’ Plant Height 28-30 cm 40-50 cm Plant Width 60 cm 100-120 cm Seed set Present Absent Internode length 3-4 cm 8-10 cm

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Bidens ferulifolia cv.             ‘Bidcomtis’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Bidens ferulifolia cv. ‘Bidtis 1’ (U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 12,280); Breeders code of the new plant is B 72-4.         -   Male parent.—Unnamed selection of Bidens ferulifolia             (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cuttings.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiated roots.—10-12 days at air temperature of 21             degrees C.         -   Time to develop roots.—14-18 days at air temperature of 17             degrees C. -   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Ball shaped, with trailing branches at the             bottom of the plant.         -   Plant height.—28-30 cm.         -   Vigor.—Less vigourous than Bidens ferulifolia cv. ‘Bidtis 1’             and ‘Peter's Goldteppich’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,880).         -   Spreading area of plant.—60 cm.         -   Strength.—Resistant to hot and cold weather.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching             at every node.         -   Number of branches per plant.—8 branches/plant.         -   Croptime.—12 weeks. -   The stem:     -   -   Diameter.—4 mm.         -   Shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Length of the plant stem.—Up to 30 cm.         -   Length of the lateral branch.—Up to 30 cm.         -   Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Present, can get as dark as RHS             79B in old stems.         -   Length of internode.—3-4 cm depending on light conditions.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Color.—— Young stem: 152 A — Older stem: Between 59A and             N79B with anthocyan pigmentation. -   The foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, but alternate on flower stems.         -   Shape of leaf.—2-pinnate fern-like leaves.         -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.         -   Leaf base.—Acute.         -   Leaf margin.—Laciniate.         -   Texture.—Smooth young leaves.         -   Leaf length.—34 cm.         -   Leaf width.—2-2.5 cm.         -   Depth of incision.—Fully incised.         -   Color.—Upper side: Young leaf 143A Old leaf 146A. — Lower             side.—Young leaf 144A Old leaf 146C.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.5-1.0 cm — Color: 152A — Diameter: 1 mm.         -   Venation.—Shape: Pinnate — Color: 143B, upper,and lower             surface. -   The bud:     -   -   Peduncle.—Length: 3-4 cm — Diameter.—1 mm — Angle.—45° at             base of peduncle; bending more towards main stem at the end             — Strength.—Flexible — Color.—Green, RHS 143 A, occasionally             some anthocyanin pigmentation; RHS 79B.         -   Size of the bud.—Length: 0.5-0.8 cm — Diameter: 0.3-0.5 cm         -   Shape.—Oblong.         -   Color.—14A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering season.—Continuous and free flowering throughout             spring and summer; less floriferous during the fall.         -   Diameter of disc.—2.8-3.2 cm.         -   Depth of disc.—8 mm.         -   Form.—Capitulum with 1 series of ray florets and more series             of disc florets.         -   Overlapping of ray florets.—Separate ray florets, but little             overlap in flower head.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Brush-shape — Height: 4 mm — Color: 145A.         -   Fragrance.—Weak.         -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—±100 flowers per plant             depending on growth conditions and age of plant.         -   Lastingness of inflorescences on plant.—7 days. -   Ray florets:     -   -   No. of ray florets per inflorescence.—5.         -   Size.—Length: 13-17 mm — Width: 8-10 mm.         -   Ray floret.—Shape: Ovate — Apex: Tri-dentate — Base: Obtuse             — Margin: Entire — Texture: Smooth.         -   Color of upper and lower side.—More bright and intense             golden yellow than 9A. -   Disc florets:     -   -   No. of disc florets per inflorescence.—±70 disc             florets/inflorescence.         -   Size.—Length: 4-6 mm — Width: 1 mm.         -   Disc of floret.—Shape: Tubular, elongated — Apex:             Five-pointed — Base: Fused — Margin: Entire — Texture:             Smooth.         -   Color of upper and lower side.—13A. -   Phyllary:     -   -   Number of phyllaries.—7, occasionally 6 or 8 green ones (RHS             137C) at the lower part of the receptacle and 6-8 yellow             ones (RHS 9A) near the ray florets.         -   Size.—Length:l 4 mm — Width: 1 mm.         -   Phyllary.—Shape: Elongated elliptic — Apex: Acute — Base:             Truncate — Margin: Entire — Texture: Very lightly pubescent. -   Androecium:     -   -   Location.—Present of disc florets only.         -   Anther color.—200A.         -   Anther size.—1.3 mm long.         -   Stamen number.—5.         -   Pollen color.—17A.         -   Amount of pollen.—Few. -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Location.—Present on ray and disc florets.         -   Pistil number.—±70 pistils/inflorescence.         -   Pistil length.—6.5 mm.         -   Style length.—3 mm.         -   Ovary.—Number: One per pistil — Size: 0.3 mm diameter, 1.3             mm long.         -   Ovary color.—149 C.         -   Style color.—15A.         -   Stigma shape.—Bifurcate.         -   Stigma color.—15A. -   Seed:     -   -   Production.—Yes.         -   Size.—Length: 0.5-0.7 cm — Diameter: 0.8 mm.         -   Color.—202A.         -   Shape.—2 rigid awns with minute reflexed points on the             achene. -   Disease resistance and tolerance for weather conditions: Good     tolerance to heat. No specific susceptibility for pests or diseases     has been observed. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Bidens plant, substantially as herein illustrated and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by its very compact plant habit with short intemodes and bright golden yellow flowers. 